Improvement in machine fob sheaeing sheep



J. K. ALWOOD.

I Sheep-Shearing Machine.

Patented June 23, 1868.

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J. K, ALWOOD, OFDELTA, onto.

' Letters Patent No. 79,179, dated June 23, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAGHINE ron SHEARING SHEEP.

ro ALL WHOM IT MAY oononnn:

Be it known that I, J. K. ALWOOD, of the town of Delta, in the county of Fulton, and State of Ohio, have invented a-new and-improved Device for Shearing Sheep; and I do hereby declare that' the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereoflwh ich will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawingsf'orming part of this-specification, and in which K Figure 1 is a side elevation, being broken away to show the construction. l

Figure 2 is atop plan view, and

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the line a: x, fig. 1.

Similar lettersof reference indicate corresponding par-ts in the several figures.

The whole machine consists of parts, andjmay be described as follows r The frame iscomposed of two beams, framed one into the other, in the form of the letter T, supported by three legs under the extremities, marked AAA in the drawings.

Theidrive-wheel B revolves in a longitudinal slotformed in the main beam. A balance-wheel, C, is secured to one extremity of the same-shaft.

The pituian, J, couples the crank L, which is on the end of the shaft opposite to the balance-wheel, with an arm, K, of the rock-shaft, which shaft is hinged, by means of two staples, with the cross-beam of the frame against its under side. p

The rock-shaft, as just described'is connected, by the treadle-rod I, with thetreadlc t, which is hinged to the pedestal of the fleecing-cradle, andwhere the driving-power is applied. A pair of swivel-holders, D, are fastened against the under side of the main beani, and are provided upon their inner sides with two bone or glass guides, Z Z, placed in an inclined position, as shown in fig. 1. Between these guides the operating-cord 11 passes from the wheels B F. I

A nniversal-swivel-thimble joint, E, 'is suspended between the lower ends of the swivel-holders, just described, and consists of ajoint ring, a, in which is hinged, by two screws on opposite sides, a tube, which is encircled in its middle with a spiral tension-spring, d, a slide-swivel encircling the tube or thimble-joint just described, near its lower end, and being itself partially encircled by said spring. A bar, it, which supports the slide-swivcl c, encircles the lower muzzle of the tube'or thimble described.

A pair of tension-rods, H, are pivoted-at their upper extremities, in the slide-swivel C, and consist each of two pieces,- each of which is so arranged, by means of the slide-loop 7t, and the loop or thumb-screw i, as to be shortened or lengthened at pleasure, to regulate the tension of the-cord which passes between them, the pieces sliding by one another.

A pair of cylindrical boxes, M M, are encircled by the rings or eyes at the lower extremities of the tension-rods, which rods support said boxes, and allow them a rocking motion when in use, and when the tensionbars are swung forth and back.

F is a driving or pendant-wheel, and may be oscillated in any direction, being hinged by the universab swiveljoint above described, and turns on its axis, whose journals play in the cylindrical boxesjust describedi N N are a pair of tension-hooks, whose eyes encircle the shaft or 'pnlley F, or the boxes M M, at their inner ends, andby which said boxes are connected with the 'tension-screwin the rear of the drive-wheel, and with the'tension-bars beneath. From these eyes extendtwo hooks, W W, which support the tension-bars.

The hooks N N, at their other extremity, are bent to make a right angle laterally, and are furnished each with an eye. These eyes lap overone another, and through them is inserted the bent end of the tensionscrew 1?. r I

This tension-screwpasscs througha post on the rear end of the bars G G, and is encircled. by a spiral spring, d, which slides it rearward, and, by its connection with the tensiorrhoolcs, keeps up the tension of the cord that connects the drive and shear-wheels.

G G are a pair of tensiorvbars, which consist of a piece of iron, so bent as to form two bars, connected at the rear end, lying parallel, between which the drive-wheel l3 revolves,an'd on which its boxes appear to rest and slide back and forth, as regulated by the tension-screw; but said bars G G really rest in the minute hook W, at the lower extremities of the short arms of the tension-hooks.

The oilice of said bars is to steady the drive-wheel F and itsfixtures, so that the tensity of its cord may be kept up, and it may be drawn forward or thrust backward or turned laterally, at pleasurc,.being coupled with the shear-case S .by the universal-swivel joint E. With said bars at the rear is connected a feeder, O, which prevents the tension-screw from striking against the rear leg of the frame in its oscillations,

A universal-swivel-thimblejoint, E, couples the tension-bars with the shear-case S, and which differs from the pendant universal-swivcl-thimble joint in this particular, that its swivel e does not slide, as does the swiivel C, in the joint before described. Its oriices are. precisely the same in other respects, although its thimble or tube is externally different, onc end being made prismatic, to fit the rear interior of the shear-case S.

The shear-case S is composed of three pieces, so shaped and fitted as to compose a whole, somewhat prismatic in shape, exteriorly, but hollow. Its rear end is square, while its opposite-or front end, by a gradual convergence of two opposite sides, and divergence of the other two from the rear to the front end, make the proportion of the height of the sides at the front end to the top and bottonnas one to five.

Its cover is composed of two pieces, opened at once they meet. They may each be opened one hundred and eighty degrees. The main body of the case is of one whole piece, with its sides turned upwards. In it thcshear-whe'elY revolves, and the shear-stem vibrates laterally.

A shear-wheel is placed in the front or broad end of the shear-case, whose periphery is grooved, so 'to be whirled-by a cord, g, which connects it with the drive-wheel, and whose shaft has an eccentric protrusion so hinged near the front end that they open vertically, and-if: both 7 on one side about its middle, so that when .it whirls in the longitudinal slot in the shear-stc n'ld, it gives it a vibrating motion laterally. I

i The shear-stem'W' is,hingcd in the rear-end of the shear-case, and vibrated laterally by eccentric-shaft oflthe shear-wheeliY,playingin the longitudinal slot near the front end. Its front end is'widencd and perforated, to re'ceive,"hy screws, the shear-plate or cutting-device,

whichioperates after the manner of a harvester,

. and isold and need not be described.

The machine ischcaply and easily constructed, simple in its operations, and not easily injured, placing it within the reach and management of all classes, and recommending itself to the favor of all. The farmer or shepherdmayetrust it in the hands of the most obtuse hireling without risk. i

Havingthus-described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

11 ,Thecombination and arrangement of the pendant-wheel F with the tension-rods H, bar s G, hook-bars N, spring Liscr'e w-p, and cylindrical boxes, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

. 2. Thelslottedjvibrating-arm'W in'thc shear-case S, when operated by the cord 9 g and wheel Y, as herein described for the purpose specified. i 3. The'uni versal-swiveljoint E, constructed as described, of the hinged-joint-ring a, spiral spring cl, encircling the central tube, the bar at, and slide-swivel. c, as herein set forth;

4i. The construction'of theswivel-holders or guides D, as herein described, for the purpose specified. 5. The combination of the universal thimble-joints E, tension-rods H, .bars G, pulleys B F, and shear-case S, substantially as'described, for the purpose specified.

6. The portable sheep-shearing device, operated by means of the treadle t, pivoted to therod I of the driving-mechanism, as herein described, for the purpose specified.

" J. K. ALWOOD.

Witnesses:

M. M. DINIUS, W. O. 'DInIUs. 

